Key pouch



D. J. NASH KEY POUCH May 13, 1941.

Filed Oct. l2, -1959v INVENTOR E? TORNEY latch plate, and

' modification of theinvention.

Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES@ PATENT 4OFFICE azi-2,141

KEHQUCH Daniel J. Nas'hvewyerk, N. Y. -Appneation october 12, 1939,serial No. 299,174 4 claims. (c1. l15o-4o) WC3 This invention relates 1ngeneral to key A. y l e t A a case, envelope or cover Aof any suitableconpouches or key cases for normally encasingkeys and the like forconvenient carriage in the pocket, hand-bag or the like, and permittingthe keys to be projected or pulled from one end oufV 5 the case for use.Va flexible envelope or cover and a lazy tongs system of links withinthe cover or envelope for supporting and moving a key holder toward andThe case in general includes mi from an opening in the envelope toproject and rr10 retract keys on the holder, through said opening out ofand into the envelope.

One object ofthe invention is to provide a key pouch of the generalcharacter described which shall include a case, envelope or cover15Another object is to provide novel and `ima-2p proved automatic meansfor holdingthe keys in projected position for use and for releasing theprojected keys at thewill of .the operator for retraction thereof`'intorthe case after use.

A further object is to provide such an. aiuta-3.25'

'traction of the lazy tongs system. As shown,

matic means for holding the keys in projected--` position which shallinclude a novel and improved latchv orydetent to cooperate with a partof the lazy tongs mechanism whereby av's'imple con'- struction that iseasy and positivem operation ,.30

shall be obtained.

Otherl objects are to provide a key case of the character describedwhich shall be simple, inexpensive, vreliable and durable inconstruction and operation, and to obtain other advantagesgg A andlresults as Will be brought out by the follow` showing the keyswithinthe case. l I t Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing l`thekeys projected from the case. n 14 y Figures 4 and5 are transversevertical sec-Lm tional views on the lines 47-74 and 5L 5 of Figures Zand3, respectively.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal'sectional f40' l VFigure 2 Vis asimilar view with the upper por-b" tion of the case, envelope or coverremoved, and

View on'the lline 6 6 lof Figure 4, portions beingi`l 50 broken away.

` Figure 7 is a detached perspective view of the Figure' 8 is a Viewsimilar to Figure 2 showing a The pouch embodying the inventioncomprises struction' having an opening B, preferably at Vone end. Asshown, the case is formed of ilexible material such as leather and iscomposed of two simil'arpiecesl secured together in superposed relationat their edges as by stitches 2.

VWithin the case is a key 'holding and ejecting mechanism C whichis'shown as comprising a lazy tongs system of links`which includes aplurality of *similar links 3. As shown, there are three pairs' of the1inks 3, the links of each pair being connected at one end to the linksof another vpair as at 30, and the links of each pair being pivotallyconnected together substantially midway between their ends as at 4. Thefree ends of 'the pairs of links at one end of the system have pin andslot connections 5` with a key holder 6 thatis shown` in the form of aplate having a plurality of key holding loops or clips 'IV pivotally orotherwise movably connected thereto and to which keys D are attached.

The free ends of the pair of links at the other end ofthe system arepivotally and slidably connected to the case to permit extension andconthe links are connected at 8 to the respective approximatelyvrectangular' blocks r9 of suitable material whichare Vslidably mountedto move toward and from each other in a guide channel I0 which is-formedintegrally with a supporting plate- II. As shown, the plate II has oneend 'returned to form the channel, and the free edge hasan inturnedflange I2, whereby the guide piecesy 9 are held against lateral movementin the guide channel. The pivot connecting the links of the pairwhichare connected to the guide pieces 9 is in the form of a pin I3 that isslidably mountedl in a slot I4 in the supporting plate Il and has acircumferential groove |30 engaging the plate at the edges of said slot,so as to guide the lazy tongs system and hold it against lateralmovement away from the plate II. With this `construction the blocks 9may slide toward each other in the guide channel I0 to permit the lazytongs-system of links to be extended as shown in Figure 3 by pullingupon one of the keys D to move the key holder 6 toward the opening B andproject the vkeys on the. clip l from the case through said opening,

For contracting the lazy tongs links so as to move the key holder 6 awayfrom the opening B- and retract the keys into the case, I have shown aspring which includes a helical coil I5 having its ends I6 plvotallyconnectedv to the joints between two adjacent pairs of links, as clearlyshown in Figures 3 and 4. With this construction, the spring normallytends to draw the lazy tongs links together so as to contract thesystern of links as shown in Figure 2, and at the same time causes theblocks 9 to slide apart in the guide channel I0.

The supporting plate Il is mounted at the end of the key case oppositethe opening B and may be secured in the case in any suitable manner. Asshown, the wall of the channel I is provided with a threaded opening Iland the abutting wall of the case is formed with a registering openingi8, and a cap screw I9 passes through said openings, is secured into theopening Il and has its head overlying the outer sur.- faces of said wallof the case. rIhis provides. a. simple and inexpensive manner ofsecuring the plate il and lazy tongs system in the case. If' desired theplate may also be glued in the case.

With this construction, the key holder 6 and the associated keys D arenormally encased as shown in Figure 2. When it is desired to use any ofthe keys, it is simply necessary to grip one of the keys between thethumb and index finger of one hand, and pull it outwardly. To facilitategripping of the keys, the ends of the(- side walls of the case may becut away as at 26. This will result in extension of the lazy tongs linksto project the keys D from the case through the opening B as shown inFigure 3. Upon release of the keys, the spring i will tend to contractthe lazy tongs links in the opposite direction so as to retract the keysinto the case as shown in Figure 2.

In accordance With the invention, means is provided for temporarilyholding the keys in projected position for use. As shown, a detent orlatch plate 2l is pivotally 'mounted on the supporting plate Il Aas byhooked arms 22 on opposite side edges of the plate disposed in thenarrow portions of slots 23 inthe supporting plate, the outer ends ofWhichare enlarged at 230 to permit the Varms 22 initially to be insertedtherethrough andV thereafter slid into the narrower portions forattaching the latch plate to the plate Il. One end of the latch plateisinc linedy at 25 toward the supporting plate l Iv, and this end isnormally influenced toward the supporting plate by a spring 25 disposedbetween the supporting plate and the latchl plate. One end of the pin i3of the lazy tongs system projects above the surface of thed supportingplate so as to be engaged by the inclined endy 2,4 of the latch platewhen the lazy tongs system is extended as shown in Figures, 3 and 5.

The portion of the material of the, case A overlying the detent plate 2|is suiiciently flexible to permit the plate to be oscillated bypressureof` the lingers of the operator through the material and when the lazytongs system is extended and it is desired to release said system topermit retraction of the keys in the case, it is, merely necessary topress downwardly or inwardly upon the wall of the case above the end ofthe.. latch plate 2l opposite the inclined end 24, whereupon the end 24will be raised out of engagement with the pin I3 and the pin will slidebeneath the latch plate as the lazy tongs system contractsas` shown inFigure 2. y i

If desired to prevent collapseA of the wall of the case A at oppositesides of the` latchY plate, pads or the like 26 may be secured to theplate, and these pads may also be disposed; to abut the a manner as tobecome released from the slots 23.

If desired, the blocks 9 may be made longer so as to project beyond theends of the channel I0, and the side walls of the case may be formedwith openings 21 through which the ends of the blocks may projectoutwardly from the case to serve as nger pieces, as shown in Figure 8.With this construction, when it is desired to project the keys from thecase, it is simply necessary to grip the projecting ends of the blocksor finger pieces 9 between the thumb and index linger of one hand, andpress the nger pieces or blocks toward each other. This will result inextension of the lazy tongs links to project the keysfrom the casethrough the opening B. The structure and operation of this form of theinvention may `be otherwise the same as that above described.

While I have shown and described the now preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that the details of structure of thecase may be Widely modined and changed without departing from the spiritor scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A key pouch including an approximately fiat case having an opening atone end, a keyholding and ejecting mechanism in said case including alazy tongs system of links comprising a plurality of pivotally connectedpairs of links each pair of which consists of two links pivotallyconnected intermediate their ends, a

key holder pivotally connected to the links at the end of said lazytongs system nearer said opening'Y in the, case, a rigid supportingplate mounted in said case adjacent the end thereof opposite saidopening, means connecting the links at the other end of said system toone side of` said supporting plate for movement relative to each otherto permit extension andv contractionl of said lazy tongs system formovement of said key holder toward and from' saidy opening, and a springfor contracting said lazy* tongs system,hsai dfsupporting plate having aslot, and the pivot iconnectinglcne pair of links being'a pin slidableinsaid slot and having one end projecting from the side of" said plateyopposite said lazy tongs system,` and a latchi including a platemounted on the last-mentioned side of said 'supporting plate toreleasably engage said projecting end of said pin f or holding said lazytongs system extended.

' 2,. key pouch including an approximately flat case of pliable materialhaving an openingat one end, a key-holding and ejectingmechanism in saidcase including a lazy tongs system of links comprising a plurality ofpivotally connected pairs of links each pair of which consists of twolinks pivotally connected intermediate their` ends, a key holderpivotally connected to Athe links at the end of said lazy tongs systemnearer said opening in the case, a` rigid/,supporting plate mounted insaid casel adjacent the end'thereof opposite said opening, meansconnecting the links at the other end of said systemto said supportingplate for movement relative to each other to permitextension andcontraction of saldlazy tongs system for movement of said key holdertoward and from saidopening, and a spring for contracting said lazytongs system, the pivotfof one of said pairs of links being a pinhavingh onev end projecting beyondV the general plane, of, said lazylatch plate and prevent it from sliding in such tongs system, a latchincluding a plate pivotally lmounted intermediate its ends on saidsupporting plate with one end to releasably engage said pin, and aspring to influence said end of said latch plate into engagement Withsaid pin when said lazy tongs system is extended.

3. A key pouch including an approximately at case of pliable materialhaving an opening at one end, a key-holding and ejecting mechanism insaid case including a lazy tongs system of links comprising a pluralityof pivotally'connected pairs of links each pair of which consists of twolinks pivotally connected intermediate their ends, a key holderpivotally connected to the links at the end of said lazy tongs systemnearer said opening in the case, a rigid supporting plate mounted insaid case adjacent the end thereof opposite said opening, meansconnecting the links at the other end of said system to saidsupportingplate for movement relative to each other to permit extension andcontraction of said lazy tongs system for movement of said key holdertoward and from said opening, and a spring for contracting said lazytongs system, the pivot of one of said pairs of links being a pin havingone end projecting beyond the general plane of said lazy one end, akey-holding and ejecting mechanism in said case including a lazy tongssystem of links comprising a plurality of pivotally connected pairs oflinks each pair of which consists of two links pivotally connectedintermediate their ends, a key holder pivotally connected to the linksat the end of said llazy tongs system nearer said opening in the case, arigid supporting plate mounted in said case adjacent the end thereofopposite said opening, means connecting the links at the other end ofsaid system to said supporting plate for movement relative to each otherto permit extension and contraction of said lazy tongs system formovement of said key holder toward and from said opening, and a springfor contracting said lazy tongs system, the pivot of one of said pairsof links being a pin having one end projecting beyond the general planeof said lazy tongs system, said supporting plate having a pair ofopenings, each with a narrow portion and an enlarged portion, a latchcomprising a plate having hooked arms at opposite side edges andintermediate its ends which have been ini-- gagement with said pinwhensaid lazy tongs system is extended.

DANIEL J. NASH.

